Safety device for rotary catheads



June 17, 1930. I A. w. POSEY 1,764,887

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ROTARY CAT HEADS Filed Dec. 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1f La L INVENTOR. 4 1 ALFRED w. PosEY A TTOR N E Y.

uFuue 17, 1930 A. W. POSEY SAFETY DEVICE FOR ROTARY CAT HEADS Filed Dec.11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L 4 a m INVENTOR. ALFRED W. POJEY ATTORNEY.

Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ALFRED w. POSEY, ornone BEACH, CALIFORNIA, .AssI'oNoB s ONEQHALI T0 .mmns M- QUEEN, or LOS,ANGELES, cnrmonma SAFETY :onvrcn non Roman oArrHEAns Application filmDecember 11, 1-924. Serial No. 755,354.

My. invention relates to safety devices adapted to be associatedwith amotor and the rotary member driven thereby, or each individually, sothat either or both may be practically instantly stopped under certainconditions. More particularly my invention is adapted to be associatedwith the rotary cat head, winch, nigger head, or whatever term may beused to designate the rotary element associated with the draw works of aWell drilling apparatus, the purpose of my invention being to insure thesafety of the operators or individuals present when said draw works isin operation.

As-is welljknown, the rope or line used on the rotary cat head ofthedraw works of a well drilling apparatus frequently, and without anyprevious indication thereof, fouls or loops or crosses itself, insteadof being wound evenly on said cat head. This pr0- ceeding, as everyoneversed in oil well dri1ling knows, is very dangerous to the individualsstanding close by. It is by no means an uncommon occurrence for such afouled rope or line to catch the operator, or the ind1- dividualstandingclose by, and wind him about the cat head breaking his arms orlegs,

and often crushing him to death, sometimes flinging him many feet, whichresults in his instant death. There are numerous instances on recordwhere this has been done.

By the use of my invention, as has been clearly exemplified inpr-actice;all such dangerous incidents and accidents are entirely avoided andprevented. When my apparatus has been installed, the cat head and themotor associated therewith may be practically' instantly stopped,automatically and manually, whenever the rope or line foulsor anythinghas happened to the machinery;

While my apparatus is particularlyuseful and isespecially adapted foruse in connection with the cat headof a well drilling apparatus, it isto be distinctly understood that I do not intend tha-txitbe limited tosuch use, for in its general application it may be used inconnectionwith any apparatus where it is desirable to automatically stop any formof machinery in order to, prevent accidents. And not only may suchmachinery be brought to astop automatically, but the same may beeffected manually at any convenient distance from such machinery.

It is therefore an obj ect of myinvention to provide a novelformofapparatus whereby a moving mechanism or sets of moving mech .anismsmay be stoped practically instantly and automatically, or manually, atany convenient distance from such mechanism or mechanisms.

The above and further-objects and advantages of my invention as willhereinafter more fully appear, I attain by the mechanism described inthe specification and illustrated in the drawings, forming a part of myapplication.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which similarreference characters denote similar parts. In the drawings, Fig. '1 is aplanview showing my apparatus applied to the two rotary cat headsofawell drilling app'aratus and the motor for operating the same,

Fig. 2 is an elevational view *ofthe mechanism for bringing the reverselever of a motor toa vertical or neutral position,

Fig; 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2, the re verse lever being shown insection,

Fig. .4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a motorcylinder,showing the position that the valve associated with said cylinder takeswhen said motor has been stopped.

5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail top view of Fig. 1 showing myimproved lever mechanism in the position infull lines that it assumes inrelation to the rope wound on said cathead when it is wound evenly andin dotted position when said rope has become fouled or looped. V

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the guiding memher for guidingand steadyingthe cables associated with my apparatus, 4 Fig. 7' ma longitudinalsectional view on the line 7 7 Fig. 6, i

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of Fig.5 on the line 8-8 and Fig. 9isafragmentary detail cross sectional view on the line 9--9, Fig. 3.Describing-my invention more in detail, I provides pair of standards oru rights 1.

each equipped with a supporting plate 2, which plates form a meanswhereby said uprights or standards may be positioned on the base orframe F of an engine or motor E, said plates 2 being either integralwith or secured to said standards or'uprights as desired. In the formshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the uprights 1 are positioned on the frame F byremoving the bolts 13 associated with said frame and inserting themthrough suitable holes or slots formed in the plates 2 It is of courseto be understood that if desired said uprights may be positioned on themain bearings M, shownin Fig.1, of the engine or motor E, or indeed inany other positionfound desirable, a suitable link or levermecl1anism,'or a set of cables, being supplied to operate thereverse-lever R of said engine or motor. In the form shown in Figs. 1and 2 such additional link or lever mechanism or cables, are of course,unnecessary.

As shown in Fig. l, 3 indicates the two cat heads that are associatedwith the draw works of the well drilling apparatus, said cat heads beingmounted on and rotated by means of the cat head shaft, 8, which in turnis adapted to be rotated by means of a suitable'transmission mechanismassociated with the main shaft of the engine or motor E. As shown inFigs. 5 and 8, the rope 31, used in connection with'the .cat head 3, iswound about said cat head. So long as said rope is wound evenly onsaid'cat head .as theshaft 8 thereof turns in the inclined bearing B,the

lever 5, pivoted on the support 29, is in'the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 5, and no danger attends such a proceeding. Since the catheads are being rotated at a very rapid rate it frequently happens thatthe rope 31 becomes fouled or looped or crossed,

which is a source of great danger to. theoperator or individual standingclose by,said fouled rope often enveloping said'operator or individualwith sometimes fatal results. When this happens the rope 31 will causethe lever 5 to assume the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 5, thelever in such position coa cting with the mechanism hereinafter morefully described, to bring the motor or engine E, as well as the fouledcat head 3,'to practically an. instant stop.

As shown in Figs.n5 and 8, the inclined bearing B is provided with apair of'bolts and 43". I- use said bo'lts'to'secure thesupport 29 tosaid bearings. Inpractice the distance between said bolts'variesso thatin addition to the hole provided in thesupport 29 to accommodate thebolt43 I-provide a slot 32' to accommodate the bolt 42, so'that saidsupport 29 may be applied to anybearirrespective of'the distance betweensaid The support 29mayalso be provided with a series .ofl1oles sothat'the pivotbolt 28 may be positioned in any one of them to providefor the proper mounting of the lever 5 in relation to the cat head 3.The support 29, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, comprises an angular memberbent at any convenient angle so that said support may provide for aproper position of the lever 5 in relation to the bearing B and the cathead 3.

Preferably, the lever 5 is pivoted to the support 29 in such a positionthat one" arm thereof is positioned in close proximity with the innerend of the cat head 3. The two tion means to prevent wear on the rope31.

As long as the rope or line 31 iswound evenly on the cat head 3, thetrip lever 5 remains unaffected. Should however said rope or line becomefouled, the lever 5 will be instantly actuated, the rope or line in thiscase piling up on the inner end of cat head 3, and as shown in Fig. 5,said lever will as sume the dotted position shown in said figure andpull the cable securely thereto, which cable, through the apparatushereinafter more fully described, will actuate the reverse lever B ofthe engine E, practically instantly bringing said engine, andconsequently said cat head, to an abrupt standstill. I

i As shown in'Figs. 5 and 8, I have provided a means whereby thetrip'lever' 5 may be adjusted in relation to the cat head 3. For thispurpose I provide the support 29 with an upstanding lug 33, which lughas positioned-therein an adjustable screw bolt 30. It is clear,however, that any other means for adjusting the lever 5 may besubstitutedfor the construction shown.

Asshown in Fig. 1, there are two such trip levers 5 provided, one foreach cat head 3, said levers each having associated therewith a cable4,the length of which may be adjusted by means of the turnbuckles t. hileI have shown said trip lever applied to the cat head of the draw worksof a drilling apparatus, it is clear that I do not desire to be limitedto such 'a feature, but may place such trip levers inany other positionfound in practice'to be desirable, and may associate the same with anyrotary member or other mechanism which it is desired to stop practicallyinstantly in order to avoidaccidents or for other reasons.

Reference is now had to 4. To bring the motor or engine E to practicallya sudden stop,the valve v controlling the ports to the cylinder C mustbe brought to: the position shown in said figure;that is to say, thefluid pressure on both sides of the. piston must be equalized. As shownin said figure'oommunication is established between each side of thepiston through the two' outer ports andthe valve chest, the portopeningon each side of said valve being quite small. It is clear thatthis feature of my invention affords a quick andelficient means forholding the piston stationary and consequently insuring substantiallythe immediate stoppage of the engine. When the reverse lever B is inneutral position, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the valve o in Fig.1, being open, is in the position shown in said figure. 3

Reference is now hadto Figs. 2, 3, and 9. Said figures show theautomatic means for bringing the reverse lever B of the engine or motorE into vertical or neutral position when the rope or line 31 on the cathead 3 has become fouled. V V

The standards or uprights lare preferably,

though not necessarily, held in adjustable relation by means of one'ormore cross plates '6, there being in the present instance, as shown inFig. 9, a pair of such plates, which cross plates are adapted to fitsnugly into cut out portions provided in said uprights. Said plates "aresuitablysecured in position by means of bolts or screws 15, orany otherpreferred means, one or more slots" 7 being providediii either end foradjusting purposes. To space the upper portion ofthe standards oruprights 1 properly, and for adjusting purposes,luse apair of upper mainguide bolts 19, and a pair oflower main guide bolts 20,

which, as shown, are provided with suitable adjustingnuts so that thelength of said bolts as well as the distance between said upright maybeadjtisted. Thepurpose of said'bolts is also to provide a guiding andsteadying means for oneor'm'ore reverselever control members; to bepresently'described. It is of course to be understood that any othermeans for adjusting the; distance between the uprights as" well forguiding and steadying thereverse lever eoi'itrol member or members maybe substituteol foetus construction just (lescr'ibed 1 The reverse levercontrol members 16 and 17 areshown in Figs. 2, 3; and 9, and-are ofidentical construction and configuration, so

that, if desired, they may be" cast from the same pattern, or 1 producedin any manner found desirable: Each of saidmembers is provided withgrooveaasshown more particularlyin Fig. 9, in which the boltsl9and 20are adaptedto'take'. In Fig. 9 the lower membercomplementary to theupper member 16, has been omitted for the sake of clearness. Of course,if desired the number of bolts and groovesused may beiucreaseaorrdeereased,

as reuse inprac-uee to bedesi'rable. n As shown, the reverselevercontrol memhers are adapted to be positioned in slidable passingthrough the uprights may be square or oblongin cross section.

Preferably, though not necessarily, suitable bushings 38 are provided inthe uprights 1 for the purpose of providing for wear, and against whichbushings the springs 21 encircling the ends of said members are adaptedto press. If desired also, the uprights 1 may be countersunk to providea means for positioning said springs, each of which has a washer 39 forthe other end of each of said springs, suitable nuts 40 being used toadjust the tension of said springs. a

Each of the reverse lever control members is provided with a slot '18 toaccommodate the reverse lever B, so that while said reverse lever iscontrolled by said members, said reverse lever may neverthelessbeoperated man-- ually without interfering with the operation of saidmembers. i

To set the valve a in proper position in relation to" the position ofsaid reverse lever, I haveprovided the members 16 and 17 with adjustableboltand lock nut means 22. Said means .22 provides for an accurateadjust- -45, so that the throw of said control members may beaccuratelyadjusted so that the reverse lever B may be brought to avertical or neutral position at the proper time.

Each of the reverse lever control members' is provided with a triangularcam projection '24, either formed integral with said .members', orsecured thereto in any preferred manner, said cam projections beingidentical in size and shape, so that said re- 7 verse lever controlmembers may be interchanged. Preferably, though not necessarily, saidcam projections are positioned on the wider portions of said controlmembers and at the point where said members are reduced in width. Ofcourse, if desired, said cam projections may be placed in any positionon said control members foundto be desir-able.

To provide an automatic mechanism. for instantlylrele'asing thecamprojections 24, andinturnthememberslti and 17 I have p0- ed to engagethe cam projection sitioned a pair of trip pawls P on the cross plate 6in close proximity with the CQDIPFOL the projections 24 y means of thesprings 11,

anchored to the uprights 1 and to the pawls P by suitable screw bolts orother means 14.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, thepawls P are preferably, thoughnotinecessarily, cut away as shown, so that they'will be in overlappingengagement. Each end of said pawls is provided with a vertical portion,either integral therewith or secured thereto in any preferred manner,the end portion of the pawl adapted to engage the cam projection 24' onthe upper controlling member 16 being approximately of twice thelengthas the en d-portion adapton the lower member 17 Should thevalve'o'associated with the engine E become worn so that it will not bepositioned properly to bring said engine to a standstill when thereverse lever B is in the dotted positionshown in 2, or should a singlecylinder engine, provided. with the usual fly wheel, be equipped with aleaky shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

valve, or for some other reason said valve is not positioned properly,it will be necessary to substitute for one of the pawls P another ofshorter length so that the reverselever R will be moved past itsvertical position in order that the otherpawl P may let go the camprojection 24 with which it is inengagement, to bring said valve to theproper position to stop the engine instantly.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, the end portions of the pawls P as well asthe cam projections 24, are beveled so that when said end portionsrelease said cam projections, they may readily pass each other. When thepawls P are in engagement with the, projections 24, said pawls assumethe position In this position it is possible to manipulate the reverselever R to reverse the engine or stop the same by placing saidlever inneutral position,

without in any way interfering with the members 16 and 17. t When thepawlsP are out of engagement with the cam projections 24, they assumethe dotted positions shown in said figure.

To operate the pawls P, either manually or automatically, I haveprovided a pawl trip lever9 pivoted to the crossplate 6 by means of asuitable bolt or other means 10. Said pawl trip lever is connected toeither or both cat heads 3 by means of a cable or cables 4, which may beadjusted by the turn buckles t. It is of course clear that said pawltrip lever may have its cable or cables 4 extended to anyconvenientpoint, and'may be operated manually, and may not beconnectedto the cat heads 3 as just described. ;When either or pawllever 9 also assuming the dotted position shown in said'figure.

The members 16 and 1'? 7 being held under the compression of the springs21, are caused by said springs to move suddenly away from each other,when the lever 9 has caused the pawls P to release the cam projections24. The action of said members will accordingly bring the reverse leverR into neutral or verticalposition, which in turn will bring the valve ointo the position shown in Fig. 4, practically instantly stopping theengine.

As shown on Fig. 2 the lever 9 may have associated therewith a suitablestop member 25 positioned on the cross plate 6, though this is notessential.

To provide a means for steadying and guiding the movement of the cables4, as well as to reduce any wear thereon to a minimum, I have equippedthe standards or uprights l with a novel form of trip line guide 85,shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. Said trip line guide is provided witha supporting means 37, either integral therewith or secured thereto inany preferred manner,l said support being set at any convenient angle tothe main portion of said guide Said supporting means 37 is adapted to besecured to one of the uprights 1, in any preferred position, preferablymeans of screws, bolts or the like.

The main portion of the trip guide 35 is preferably, though notnecessarily, rectangular in cross section, and is provided with a pairof rollers 34, mounted on pintles 41, said rollers being held inposition and spaced from each other by a pair ofprojections 36, as shownin Fig. 6. As will be clear from Figs. 6 and 7, the cables 4 passbetween the rollers, which rollers act as a steadying and guiding meansas well as an anti-friction means for reducing wear on saidcables to aminimum.

Inoperation, the lever control mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is positionedon'the engine frame F in the'manner previously described, the reverselever B being positioned in the slot 18. If the valve o is notpositioned in properrelation to said reverse lever, for reasonshereinbefore mentioned, the bolts 22 are adjusted so that said leverwhen brought to neutral or vertical position will cause said valvetooccupy the position shown in Fig. 4. In view of the fact that theengines used in oil well practice vary in character, and that the valvesencountered therein after considerable use become leaky, pawls ofuniversal size cannot be used. In such cases pawls of adjusted by meansof the stop bolts 44 and 45, by screwing'said bolts toward or away fromthe uprights 1, said members striking said bolts 44 and 45 at theproper. distance so the lever It shall be placed in the dotted positionshown in Fig. 2. The apparatus is now in the position shown in Figs. 2and 3, as indicated by the full lines, and the engine E is in operation.The pawls P being in engagement with the cam projections 24, the controlmembers 16 and 17 are held stationary and under the compression of thesprings 21. It will be clear that the reverse lever K under thesecondiitons will be free to be operated manually without in any wayinterfering with the apparatus described;

It will be understood, of course, that after the reverse "lever B hasbeen positioned as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the members 16 and17 and pawls P are set manually, as shown in full lines in said figure.

As long as the rope 31 on the cat head 3 is wound evenly the apparatuswill remain inactive. The rope or line 31, pulling as it does at anangle, invariably fouls or crosses or loops at'the inner end of the cat,head where the lever mechanism 5 is positioned. Should said rope becomefouled, the roller 27 of the lever mechanism 5.will.instantly. be pushedoutward by said fouled rope, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5.This action will cause the lever to swing substantially to the dottedposition shown in said figure, givin a sharp pull on the cable 4. Saidcable wi l accordingly pull the lever 9 to the/dotted position shown inFig. 2, its end 46 displacing the pawls P to their dotted position shownin said figure, and instantly release the cam projections 24. Thecontrol members'16 and 17, under the compression of the springs 21, willinstantly fiyout away from each other, insuring that the reverse lever Bbe brought to the dotted position shown in said figure.

This action will bring the valve 1; into the po sition shown in Fig. 4,substantially instantly stopping the engine or motor E, and of coursethe rotation of the cat head 3. The movement of the cat head beingstopped, it is clear that all danger from the fouled rope 31 will beinstantly and eifectively eliminated.

It is also clear, that the apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 8 may bedispensed with entirely, so long as the valve '0 may be brought into theposition shown in Fig. 4. Moreover, it is to be understood that myinvention is not limited in its application to a rotary cat head merely,but is applicable to any rotary member or any mechanism in the operationof which there is any danger to bodily injury of the operator or anyindividual standing close by. My invention admits both of automatic ormanual operation, it being within the province of my invention toposition cab e 0 a les 1, uch a ma e d i -$1 1 afposit netlm the mayoprate either' auttmatieau or manually to the n ne rmete E p ae i ally e ieta end t l f Whil I-h unsuited myi ventionwi ea pa as; i ty t i l ar tat h Sam may be, modified tamugusutt Wide range. I accordingly, do". notpropose tobe limited to the exact details of construction [shown anddescribed, bitt -reserve the right in practice to make any and,alllhodificatioris thereof that fall. within Itheiscope or the appendedelaims. .I claim. as invention: v

' 13in an apparatus of the classrdescribed including a fsjtearn engineprovided with distributing valves and a reverse lever, of a rotaryshaft, a cat head mpunted on said shaft, aropecoiled about said cathead, a bearing inlwhich said shaft is adapted to rotate sets of meansconnected to said bearing and engaging said rope, which means,

when saidrope foulson said catheadhfunctions tobring said reverseleverto neutral position so that. said engine will withdilt extraneousassistance function as a brake to bring said; cat head to a stand stillsubstantially with in a quarter of a revolution thereof.

2. lina safetyapparatus including amotor t he s epp d, the emhinat n earetaty s et, a d meu d 9n sa ha 2 m c e ut s -fia he d, a e r inwhichjsaid shaft is adaptedto rotate,.mechanical means on said bearingadaptedto be ses dby s i r pe w en .i -i eulsfa d tr p means on saidmotor connected to said mechanical means for causing said motel": to

ta etie es ae atevi hwte i ae es is an whensa d r p t e am s d se heedla 1 efe m h n em i idies are fie y te ter m n e evere breathnambinationo fa rotary shaft, cathead mount e fii l h t a op -tail eheetsa l head,a bearing in wh c faaidu heftis adapted to rotate, ustable means on Wsaid bearing for engaging said rope when it fouls, trip means adapted toactuate said reverse lever for bringing said lever to neutral positionto cause said motor to act as a brake, anda connection between said tripmeans and said adjustable means, said connection being adapted to beoperated manually to trip said trip means, or automatically when therope on said cat head fouls.

4. In a safety device for a rotary cat head driven by a fluid pressuremotor, the combination of a rotary shaft, a cat head mounted on saidshaft, a rope coiled about said cat head, a bearing in which saidshaftis adapted to rotate, a bell crank pivoted to said bearing, adaptedto be engaged by said rope when.

adapted to control said motor to cause said tive to the bearing, a bellcrank pivoted to said plate, means on said plate for adjustably limitingthe movement of said bell crank, anti-frictlon rope engaglng'meanscarried in one arm of said bell crank, and means connected to the otherarm of said bell crank whereby said cat head may be substantiallyinstantly stopped when said rope fouls.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rotary member,about which a rope is adapted to be coiled, means con- -aected to saidmember whereby it may be rotated, a bearing in which said member isrotated, a movable member pivotally mounted on said bearing anddetachable therefrom, and means on said movable member'whereby Wear onsaid rope will be reduced'to a minimum, whensaid movable member isactuated by said rope to bring said rotary member to substantially aninstant standstill.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, including a fluid pressuremotor, the combination of a rotary cat head about which a rope isadapted to be coiled, a bearing in which said cat head is adapted to berotated, a trip mechanism mounted on said bearing, said trip mechanismbeing adapted to be trippedwhen said rope fouls, a second trip mechanismadapted to control said motor to bring the same substantially to aninstant standstill, and an adjustable connection between both of saidtrip mechanisms which connection may also be manually operated toactuate said second trip mechanism. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed. my name to this specification.

ALFRED W. POSEY.

